Category: Music for Worship

Abiding Faith

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October 25, 2024

6:33 am

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Music for Worship, Worship Song

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Abiding Faith Album Cover

New Recording

Listen and download a recording of this song from Bandcamp:

“And the apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’” (Luke 17:5).

Abiding Faith

A prayer that God would create in us a true and an abiding faith that will anchor us firmly in Christ and remain steadfast through all trials and troubles of this life.

A true and an abiding faith,
Create within our hearts,
A faith that carries us to Christ
And ne’er from Him departs.

Fashion us that we may be
Vessels ready to receive
Your Word, O Lord, help us to know
And ev’ry word believe.

Lord, give us an obedient faith
That comes with no demands,
But bows submissive to Your Word,
Delights in Your commands.

We want not faith that boasts itself
In pious words and deeds,
Nor faith that seeks the praise of men
Yet God’s Word will not heed.

Lord, give to us a humble faith
That boasts in Christ alone.
A faith that boldly speaks His name
And bows beneath His throne.

Create in us a saving faith,
A faith that will remain.
We need a faith not of ourselves,
Lest we believe in vain.

Search us now, our hearts expose;
Ev’ry spurious hope make known,
That we may flee from empty faith
And look to Christ alone.

Each day increase our faith, O Lord,
More firmly placed in You.
In mercy lift us when we fail
That we may walk anew.

We want not faith that rests content
In blessings of this life,
Nor faith that fails to persevere
Through trials, pain, and strife.

A true and an abiding faith,
Lord, grant to us, we pray;
A faith that will not fail or fade,
Create in us today!

Words and Music by Ken Puls
Set to the Tune: ABIDING FAITH
Words and Music ©2002 Kenneth A Puls

Download the lyrics and free sheet music for this song, including an arrangement of the tune ABIDING FAITH for classical guitar.

More Hymns and Songs by Ken Puls

Above image made from Unsplash

O Spirit Now We Thank You

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September 13, 2024

6:33 am

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Hymn, Music for Worship

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O Spirit Now We Thank You Album Cover

New Recording

Listen and download a recording of this song from Bandcamp:

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

O Spirit Now We Thank You

A prayer of thanksgiving to the Holy Spirit, who inspired and crafted God’s Word, asking that He “bless its proclamation” and help us rightly understand and apply its truths to our lives.

O Spirit, now we thank You
For giving us Your Word.
Please bless its proclamation,
The truths that we have heard.
Indwell us and empow’r us,
And cause us to obey;
Shine now the light of Scripture
On all we do and say.

Great Artist of the Scriptures,
In beauty You have made
God’s Word to shine in glory
That cannot fail or fade.
In poetry and proverbs,
Through narrative and line;
In prophecy and hist’ry,
God’s truth in splendor shines.

You, down through many ages,
Inspired men to write,
Progressively revealing,
You brought God’s truth to light.
O Spirit, come illumine
This truth for us today;
And guide us in sound doctrine,
The straight and narrow way.

Wield now Your Sword, O Spirit,
The quick and living Word,
And rend our hearts asunder
With truths that we have heard.
O search us now and know us,
Expose iniquity;
Conform us to our Savior,
And holy we shall be.

Words and Music by Ken Puls
Set to the Tune: GARRICK
Words and Music ©1998 Kenneth A Puls

Download the lyrics and free sheet music for this hymn, including an arrangement of the tune GARRICK for classical guitar.

More Hymns and Songs by Ken Puls

Above image made from Unsplash

Trust in God and Do the Right

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August 12, 2024

8:18 am

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Hymn, Music for Worship

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Silhouette of person on a hilltop gazing at stars

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones.
(Proverbs 3:5–8)

Listen and download a recording of this hymn from Bandcamp:

Courage, brother! do not stumble,
Though thy path is dark as night;
There’s a star to guide the humble—
Trust in God and do the right.
Let the road be long and dreary,
And its ending out of sight,
Foot it bravely—strong or weary—
Trust in God and do the right.

Perish policy and cunning,
Perish all that fears the light;
Whether losing, whether winning,
Trust in God and do the right.
Trust no party, church, or faction,
Trust no leader in the fight;
But in every word and action
Trust in God and do the right.

Trust no forms of guilty passion—
Friends can look like angels bright;
Trust no custom, school, or fashion—
Trust in God and do the right.
Some will hate thee, some will love thee;
Some will flatter, some will slight;
Cease from man and look above thee—
Trust in God and do the right.

So take courage! do not stumble,
When the path is dark as night;
Find the star that guides the humble—
Trust in God and do the right.
Firmest rule, and safest guiding,
Inward peace and inward light;
Star upon our path abiding—
Trust in God and do the right.

Words by Norman Macleod, 1857, adapted
Arranged to the tune: BEACH SPRING from Sacred Harp, 1844
Words and Music ©Public Domain

Download a free chord chart for this hymn, set to the tune BEACH SPRING.

More Hymns from History

Above image from Unsplash

Two Voices Cry Out to Be Heard

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July 19, 2024

6:33 am

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Hymn, Music for Worship

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Two Arrows on a Street at Night

In John Bunyan’s allegory, The Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian and his companion, Faithful, must travel through the town of Vanity on their Way to the Celestial City. The town represents the conceit and craftiness of the world in its opposition against God as it dresses up sin to appear desirable and appealing. The merchants at Vanity Fair cry out in an attempt to entice the pilgrims to set their affections on the things of the world. But Christian and Faithful have found something more valuable and more precious than anything this world can offer. When they are asked what they would buy, they respond, “We buy the truth.”

Buy the truth, and do not sell it,
Also wisdom and instruction and understanding.
(Proverbs 23:23)

The truth we hold dear is the Word of God.

The entirety of Your word is truth,
And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.
(Psalm 119:160)

Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth (John 17:17).

If we are to find the way to life and peace and joy, we must tune out the noise of this world and listen intently to God in His Word. Christ alone is “the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Only He has “the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).

Listen and download a recording of this song from Bandcamp:

Two Voices Cry Out to Be Heard

“My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent” (Proverbs 1:10).

“Wisdom calls aloud outside; she raises her voice in the open squares” (Proverbs 1:20).

Two voices cry out to be heard;
Take heed, my soul, and listen well.
For only one voice leads to life, 
The other down to death and hell.

The voice of sinners fills the streets,
There on the innocent they prey.
Take heed, my soul, do not consent, 
Lest you with them be cast away.

The voice of wisdom cries aloud
Above the din of sin’s deceit.
“How long, you simple, will you choose 
The evil way, the scoffer’s seat?”

It’s wisdom’s voice I long to hear
To guide my steps which way to go.
Her words of warning, I would heed; 
Her wealth of knowledge, I would know.

Lord, help me find the righteous way;
Guide me in ev’ry thought and choice.
For You alone have words of life, 
Atune my heart to love Your voice.

Let me hear clearly wisdom’s call;
Tune out the noise of sin’s allure.
Listen intently to God’s Word 
And there in Christ find rest secure.

Words ©2018 Kenneth A Puls

Arranged to the tune: FEDERAL STREET

Download the lyrics and free sheet music for this hymn, including an arrangement of the tune FEDERAL STREET for classical guitar.

More Hymns and Songs by Ken Puls

Above image from Unsplash

How Dear and Treasured Is the Church

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July 5, 2024

6:33 am

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Hymn, Music for Worship

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Pillars holding up a building

New Recording

Listen and download a recording of this song from Bandcamp:

How Dear and Treasured Is the Church

“If I delay, [I write so that] you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).

How dear and treasured is the church,
With voices joined in praise and prayers,
For God has made us one in Christ, 
To share our sorrows, joys and cares. 

Entrusted with the truth of God,
Called out to make the gospel known,
We boldly as His church proclaim:
There’s grace and hope in Christ alone!

God fashions us as living stones; 
Assembled as His dwelling place.
Though we were dead, He gives us life,
Each soul a miracle of grace.

Built as a buttress of the truth,
A pillar rising to the sky,
God sets His church before the world,
His Word and name to magnify.

To all the world we testify,
Our lives display in word and deed
The matchless worth of knowing Christ,
The boundless depth of our great need.

Brought near to God by Christ’s shed blood,
Loved and adopted as His own,
A household built upon the Word,
With Christ Himself the Cornerstone.

Built on this Rock, the church will stand,
The gates of hell shall not prevail,
All who are Christ’s shall be raised up,
The Word of God will never fail.

Words ©2017 Kenneth A Puls

Arranged to the tune: ERHALT UNS HERR

Download the lyrics and free sheet music for this hymn, including an arrangement of the tune ERHALT UNS HERR for classical guitar.

More Hymns and Songs by Ken Puls

Above image from Unsplash

Now May the God of Peace

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April 5, 2024

12:45 pm

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Hymn, Music for Worship, Worship Song

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Sea of Galilee

New Recording

Listen and download a recording of this song from Bandcamp:

Now May the God of Peace
A prayer for sanctification in the fight against sin

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Lord, I desire Your will
My heart yearns to obey
Though daily I am faced with sin
Enticing me away

So, help me rise each day
Battle and war with sin
I long to see You face to face
And final vict’ry win

Lord, You have so designed
This fight with sin in me
That as I struggle, watch and pray
I learn humility

So, help me to obey
Holiness to pursue
Deepen repentance when I fail
Strengthen my faith in You

I rest within the hope
Your Spirit dwells in me
Completing that which was begun
So holy I may be

Now may the God of Peace
Sanctify me wholly
And keep me blameless ‘til the day
Christ comes in victory

Words ©1990, 2015 Ken Puls
Arranged to the tune: STATE STREET

Download the lyrics and free sheet music for this hymn, including an arrangement of the tune STATE STREET for classical guitar.

More Hymns and Songs by Ken Puls

Above image from Unsplash

Made for Glory

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July 29, 2023

6:30 am

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Music for Worship, Worship Song

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Misty Mountains

Life is filled with many perplexing realities. It seems all too brief. It is tainted by sin. It is marred with suffering. Along with joy, there is sorrow. Contentment is ever being challenged with longing.

We know that God is good and always does good. He created both time and space as a canvas to display His glory.  He made the heavens and the earth and declared them to be “very good” (Genesis 1:31). He crafted the world with beauty and wonder. 

Yet, as we look at the world around us, we see trials and troubles. We experience sorrow and pain. We know that God is not the author of sin, but why would He allow sin and suffering to enter His “very good” creation? How could the presence of evil (and its final defeat) possibly bring about, in God’s design and purpose, the fullness of His glory and our greatest good? 

This hymn wrestles with such questions and points toward a vital truth. This world is not all there is. This life is fleeting. We were made for much more. We were made for glory.

Listen and download a recording of “Made for Glory” from Bandcamp:

Made for Glory

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes;
there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.
There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” 
(Revelation 21:4).

We journey through this life
As pilgrims here on earth;
Some live for years, some weeks or days,
Some never see their birth.
But when our journey ends,
Our moments, days, or years
Will all seem like a vapor when
God wipes away our tears.

How short the time we have,
How briefly we exist.
Compared to all eternity,
This life’s a fleeting mist.
For glory we were made
An everlasting soul,
Not just the time this life affords
With bodies that grow old.

Why is our time so short
And stained with sin and strife?
How could a loving God allow
Such suff’ring in this life?
In kindness God keeps short
Our sorrows in this place,
Yet through our pain and suffering
We come to know His grace

As time moves quickly on,
We must not waste a day,
But bring our broken, sinful lives
To Christ without delay.
In Him each day find rest,
Refreshment for the soul.
For through His suff’ring we are healed,
Forgiven, and made whole.

Though heartaches overwhelm
And fill our souls with grief,
Remember we are sojourners,
Our journey will be brief.
In glory one day soon
We will look back and say:
Our faithful God has brought us home,
Our tears He’s wiped away

Yes, one day we will be
In glory and can say:
Our faithful God, He’s brought us home,
Our tears He’s wiped away.

Words ©2022 Kenneth A Puls
Music: Public Domain

Download the lyrics and free sheet music for this song.

More Hymns and Songs by Ken Puls

Behold O Lord My Days

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July 21, 2023

6:33 am

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Music for Worship, Psalm

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From Psalm 39

Lake in Fog at Sunrise

“Lord, make me to know my end,
And what is the measure of my days,
That I may know how frail I am.
Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths,
And my age is as nothing before You;
Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.”
(Psalm 39:4–5)

Behold, O Lord, My Days

1. Behold, O Lord, my days are made
A handbreadth as their span.
Before the noon, my flow’r must fade,
The end of ev’ry man.

2. So teach me Lord, to know my end
And know that I am frail.
To heav’n let all my thoughts ascend
And let not earth prevail.

3. What love of earth can keep me here?
I hope in You alone.
When will You open glory’s gates
And call me to Your throne?

4. A stranger in this land am I,
A pilgrim far from rest.
O be not silent to my cry,
My yearning soul’s request.

5. Though I’m exiled from glory’s land,
I dwell with glory’s King.
My God is ever near at hand;
He wakes my voice to sing.

“Behold, O Lord, My Days Are Made” 
Words by Charles H. Spurgeon, 1866 alt.
To the tune: ST ANNE
Music by William Croft (1678–1727)
Words and Music ©Public Domain

Download free sheet music (PDF), including a guitar chord charts and an arrangement of the hymn tune ST ANNE for classical guitar. 

More Hymns from History

More hymns arranged for Classical Guitar

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More Hymns for Classical Guitar

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July 7, 2023

3:13 pm

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Guitar, Music, Music for Worship

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Classical Guitar and WaterFall

I just added more titles to the growing collection of Hymns for Classical Guitar. New hymn transcriptions include:

  • To God Be the Glory 
  • This Is My Father’s World
  • Grace Greater Than Our Sin
  • Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above

These Hymns for Classical Guitar are arranged to be concise, accessible, and useful for several occasions including preludes and offertories, accompanying congregational singing, or simply playing for your own enjoyment. The sheet music for each hymn is available as a free PDF download.

You are welcome to copy and share these hymns with friends and fellow guitar enthusiasts. Please copy the full page of sheet music with the website address and the “Used by Permission” notice at the bottom (see Permissions).

For additional guitar transcriptions, visit:

Wedding Music for Classical Guitar 

Music of Bach for Classical Guitar

Christmas Music for Classical Guitar

More Music for Classical Guitar 

See Amid the Winter’s Snow

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December 24, 2022

6:33 am

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Flute, Guitar, Hymn, Music, Music for Worship

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Classical Guitar and Snowy Road

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:5–8).

See Amid the Winter’s Snow

See, amid the winter’s snow,
Born for us on earth below,
See the tender Lamb appears,
Promised from eternal years.

Hail, thou ever blessed morn!
Hail, redemption’s happy dawn!
Sing through all Jerusalem,
Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Lo, within a manger lies
He who built the starry skies:
He who, throned in height sublime,
Sits amid the cherubim.

Say, ye holy shepherds, say,
What your joyful news today?
Wherefore have ye left your sheep
On the lonely mountain steep?

“As we watched at dead of night,
Lo! we saw a wondrous light;
Angels singing, peace on earth,
Told us of the Savior’s birth.”

Sacred Infant, all divine,
What a tender love was thine,
Thus to come from highest bliss
Down to such a world as this!

Teach, O teach us, holy Child,
By thy face so meek and mild,
Teach us to resemble thee,
In thy sweet humility.

Words by Edward Caswell, 1851
Music by Sir John Goss, 1870

Download free arrangements of this Christmas Hymn:

for Classical Guitar [PDF]

for Flute and Classical Guitar [PDF]

More free music arranged for guitar:

Christmas Music for Classical Guitar

Hymns for Classical Guitar

Music for Flute and Classical Guitar

More Music for Classical Guitar